Cabinet for a free-standing large-screen television

ABSTRACT

A cabinet and entertainment center is disclosed which is configured to enclose a freestanding large-screen television. The cabinet includes an enclosure having a substantially open bottom and substantially open back which permits the enclosure to be placed over a television which is stationary upon a floor. The enclosure includes an at least partially open front to expose the television screen to view. The cabinet enclosure may include casters which permit the enclosure to be easily rolled into position over the television. Bi-fold pocket doors are provided for covering the at least partially open front and the television when the television is not in use. Adjoining free-standing cabinet piers or towers may be provided for storage of audio and video equipment or other items.

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to enclosures for televisions, and more particularly, to a cabinet suitable for encasing a free-standing large-screen projection television.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Cabinets and entertainment centers are known which provide a support structure and enclosure for conventional tube television sets of various sizes. Such known cabinets and entertainment centers typically include one or more adjustable shelves or a floor for supporting a television set within the center. Such cabinets and entertainment centers generally include one or more doors for hiding the television from view when the television is not in use. Such cabinets are available in a variety of styles and finishes to match many room decors. One such television cabinet is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,057.

[0005] In recent years, projection televisions have become increasingly popular among consumers. Projection televisions have extremely large viewing screens measuring up to sixty inches or larger. Unlike conventional televisions, large projection televisions typically include free-standing housings which are intended to rest directly on the floor or are sold with matching support stands. The screens of such projection televisions are typically sufficiently elevated above floor level so that further elevation is unnecessary for ordinary viewing. Also, because such projection televisions can weigh over 300 pounds and have large overall dimensions, placing such televisions on elevated support shelves or inside conventional entertainment centers or cabinets is impractical or impossible.

[0006] Most currently available projection televisions have a modem, sleek appearance which, unfortunately, may not be compatible with many room decors. Furthermore, because of their large size, projection televisions are difficult to hide from view in an attractive manner when the televisions are not in use. Therefore, there is a need for a television cabinet or surround which provides a decorative enclosure for free-standing projection televisions. Further, there is a need for an entertainment center which can accommodate a large-screen projection television.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention provides a cabinet or enclosure for enclosing, but not supporting, a freestanding, large-screen projection television positioned on a floor. The cabinet includes a substantially open back and a substantially open bottom which permit the cabinet to be easily positioned over the television while the television is stationary on the floor. The cabinet also includes a front opening which exposes the screen of the television for viewing. Movable doors are provided to cover the front opening when the television is not in use and to hide the television from view in a closed position. Preferably, the doors are bi-fold pocket doors which can be recessed into the cabinet so that the doors will not obstruct the view of the television screen from oblique viewing positions. A plurality of casters may be provided on bottom portions of the cabinet to facilitate positioning the cabinet over the television.

[0008] In a preferred arrangement, the cabinet includes a top wall and first and second side panels. The cabinet preferably includes a front base rail to brace or reinforce lower portions of the side panels. Preferably, L-shaped brackets connect each end of the front base rail with the adjoining side panels. Casters may be affixed to the L-shaped brackets. Also, threaded levelers may be provided on front portions of the L-shaped brackets for stabilizing and leveling the cabinet enclosure once the enclosure is in position over the television. A front facial panel may be provided above the front opening to provide a finished appearance and to permit the height of the cabinet to be taller than the television. Alternatively, a shelf may be provided in the cabinet above the television receiving opening.

[0009] The invention may also take the form of an entertainment center or wall unit which includes additional cabinet portions positioned adjacent to each side of the television enclosure. The cabinet towers provide storage receptacles for audio and video equipment, accessories, and other items. Each cabinet portion is preferably configured as a free-standing pier or tower, and may be different in height and/or depth than the adjoining television enclosure. Preferably, the cabinet towers are movable relative to the adjacent side panels of the central enclosure. This permits the towers to extend rearwardly of the side panels to hide any portions of the rear of the television that may extend beyond back edges of the side panels of the enclosure portion. The cabinet towers may also include drawers and shelves and the like to receive stored items, and doors may be provided on the front faces of the cabinet towers to provide convenient access to the stored items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cabinet according to the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the cabinet shown in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the cabinet of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the cabinet doors in a closed position;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a front elevation view similar to that of FIG. 3 with the cabinet doors in an open position;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of an entertainment center with cabinet towers positioned on each side of a central television enclosure and the cabinet doors in a closed position;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the cabinet and entertainment center shown in FIG. 5 with the cabinet doors in an open position;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a top view of the entertainment center of FIG. 5 in an arrangement in which the towers are placed in a rearward offset position to cover the rear sides of the projection television;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the front of another embodiment of a cabinet according to the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the back of the cabinet shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Referring now to the drawings in general and FIG. 1 in particular, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. FIG. 1 illustrates a cabinet or enclosure 10 for surrounding a large-screen projection television 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet has a substantially open front face when the cabinet doors 24 are in an open position. As shown in FIG. 2, the cabinet 10 also includes a substantially open back and a substantially open bottom such that the cabinet 10 can be positioned over and about the television 30. Preferably the cabinet 10 is sized to accommodate a projection television having up to a 66-inch screen. The cabinet 10 may be sized larger or smaller, however, to better fit smaller or larger televisions as needed.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cabinet 10 includes a first side panel 12 and a second side panel 14. The side panels 12, 14 are connected by plurality of support members, which may take the form of a front facial panel 20, a front base molding 18, and/or a partial rear panel 22, there may also be provided additional support rails 16, 17, 19 as shown. Even further support rails may be included to provide additional structural support for cabinet 10 as needed. As shown in FIG. 2, however, it is important that no support be provided between lower rear portions of side panels 12 and 14 nor across the bottom behind front base molding 18 and bottom n front rail 16, so that the open bottom and back of cabinet 10 remain unobstructed for placing the unit over the television 30. Bottom front rail 16 is provided between the side panels 12, 14 to connect and support the lower portions of the panels. A plurality of casters 27 may be provided along the bottom edges of side panels 12, 14 to facilitate positioning the cabinet 10 over the television 30. The casters 27 permit the cabinet to be rolled into position. L-shaped support brackets 13 are connected to side panels 12, 14 and front base rail 16 as shown. The brackets 13 provide rigid support to the cabinet 10, and also provide attachment points for casters 27. Threaded levelers 29 may be provided on front portions of the cabinet as shown in FIG. 2. The levelers 29 can be adjusted to level and stabilize the cabinet structure once the cabinet is positioned over the television 30.

[0021] The front of the cabinet 10 may include a front facial panel 20 and a front base molding 18. Decorative crown molding 26 may be provided as shown to adorn the cabinet 10. A top panel 28 and partial rear panel 22 may also be provided as shown. As shown in FIG. 3, cabinet 10 includes doors 24 for shielding the television 30 from view when the doors 24 are in a closed position. Preferably, the doors 24 have a bi-fold configuration including door panels 23 and 25. Door panels 23 and 25 are hingedly connected together by one or more hinges 11 such that the door panels fold together in a substantially flat state as shown in FIG. 4. Also, the bi-fold doors 24 are preferably mounted to side panels 12, 14 in a pocket door arrangement so that the folded doors 24 can be recessed into the cabinet 10 when the doors 24 are opened as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Suitable pocket-door brackets, hardware, and the like are provided for mounting and suspending the pocket doors 24 (not shown). Such pocket door suspension systems and hardware are well known in the furniture and cabinet industry.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cabinet 10 may be part of a larger entertainment center or wall unit 60. The entertainment center 60 includes at least one cabinet tower or pier 40, 50 adjacent to cabinet 10. The cabinet towers 40, 50 provide storage space for audio/visual equipment and/or accessories for the television 30, or for other items. Preferably, cabinet towers 40, 50 are designed to match the style and décor of the central cabinet 10. Towers 40, 50 may include any combination of doors, shelves, or the like to optimize their utility.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 7, towers 40, 50 may be but are not necessarily arranged such that they are offset in position from cabinet 10. This arrangement is useful when a large television 30 has a greater depth than cabinet 10. In such a case, towers 40 and 50 shield the otherwise exposed sides of television 30 when positioned as shown in FIG. 7. This arrangement also permits the center cabinet 10 to be constructed with a more shallow overall depth than the depth of cabinet 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0024] Such a shallow center cabinet 110 is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in these Figures, cabinet 110 may be constructed with narrow side panels 112, 114 and a shallower top panel 128. In this embodiment, crown molding 26 is sized to rearwardly extend past the rear edges of the narrow side panels 112, 114. As shown in FIG. 7, the rearwardly extending crown molding 26 may be sized to extend past the rear of a television 30 and to extend to the rear edges of adjacent cabinet towers 40 and 50. This arrangement causes the protruding rear side portions of television 30 to be substantially hidden from view by adjacent cabinet towers 40 and 50. The rearwardly extending crown molding 26 causes the center cabinet 110 to appear to be integrally connected to the side cabinets 40, 50 and to have a depth at least as great as the depth of the television 30 when viewed from the front by a person in a standing or sitting position. By constructing cabinet 110 so that it has a shallow depth, cabinet 110 is lighter in weight, less expensive to produce, and will pass more easily through standard doorways than cabinet 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0025] Cabinet 110 may also include a shelf 129 positioned over the television 30 as shown in FIG. 8. Shelf 129 may be used for supporting audio and/or video equipment or other items. In this arrangement, the cabinet does not include a front facial panel, thereby making shelf 129 accessible from the front of cabinet 110. Cabinet 10 as shown in FIG. 1 may similarly include a shelf (not shown) in lieu of face panel 20.

[0026] Cabinets 10, 110, 40 and 50 may be sold fully pre-assembled, partially pre-assembled, or as ready-to-assemble kits. For example, cabinet 110 illustrated in FIG. 8 may be produced and sold to consumers in a partially assembled condition, but with crown molding 26 unassembled to the cabinet 110 for installation at a later time. By leaving the crown molding 26 separate from the rest of cabinet 110, the overall depth of the cabinet 110 is minimized, thereby permitting the cabinet 110 to pass more easily through doorways and other restrictive passageways. Once the cabinet 110 is in its final location, crown molding 26 may be assembled to the cabinet as shown.

[0027] While this invention has been illustrated and described in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims. Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the forgoing description. It should be understood that all such modifications are not contained herein for the sake of conciseness and readability, but are properly within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A television cabinet comprising an enclosure configured to substantially cover the front, sides, and top of a free-standing large-screen television, wherein the enclosure comprises a top wall, side walls, a substantially open rear, a substantially open bottom, and at least one door covering the area between the side walls and below the top wall, the open rear and bottom being sized and configured to permit the enclosure to be placed over and around the television while the television is stationary upon a floor.
 2. A television cabinet according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of casters mounted on bottom portions of the enclosure, the casters permitting the enclosure to be rolled over the television while the television is stationary on the floor.
 3. A television cabinet according to claim 1 wherein at least one door comprises a pair of doors, the doors being sized and arranged to substantially and selectively expose the front of the television when the doors are in an open position.
 4. A television cabinet according to claim 3 wherein each pair of doors has a bi-fold configuration.
 5. A television cabinet according to claim 3 wherein each door is retractably mounted to the enclosure, wherein the first door is retractable to an open position substantially adjacent to and substantially parallel to a first side of the television, and the second door is retractable to an open position substantially adjacent to and substantially parallel to a second side of the television.
 6. A television cabinet according to claim 5 wherein: (a) the first door includes first and second door panels hingedly connected together in a bi-fold configuration, the first and second door panels being foldable together such that the first and second door panels are substantially adjacent to and substantially parallel to a first side of the television when the first door is in the open position; and (b) the second door includes third and fourth door panels hingedly connected together in a bi-fold configuration, the third and fourth door panels being foldable together such that the third and fourth door panels are substantially adjacent to and substantially parallel to a second side of the television when the second door is in the open position.
 7. A television cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure further includes at least one cabinet tower positioned adjacent one of the side walls, the tower including a plurality of storage recesses therein.
 8. A television cabinet according to claim 7 wherein the at least one cabinet tower includes at least one cabinet door configured to permit access to the storage recesses.
 9. A television cabinet comprising: (a) first and second side panels, each side panel having a front edge, an inner surface, and an outer surface; (b) a plurality of support rails connecting the first and second side panels and supporting the side panels in opposed spaced relationship, wherein the side panels form an enclosure having a substantially open back, a substantially open bottom, and an at least partially open front; (c) a first door mounted to the first side panel and a second door mounted to the second side panel, wherein the doors are configured to cooperate to substantially cover the at least partially open front when the doors are in a closed position; (d) wherein the enclosure is sized and shaped to surround a free-standing large-screen television, wherein the front of the television is visible through the at least partially open front when the doors are in an open position, and wherein front and side portions of the television are substantially hidden from view when the doors are in the closed position.
 10. A television cabinet according to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of casters mounted on bottom portions of the first and second side panels, the casters permitting the enclosure to be rolled over the television while the television is stationary on a substantially flat surface.
 11. A television cabinet according to claim 9, wherein the first door comprises first and a second door panels hingedly connected together in a bi-fold configuration, and the second door comprises third and fourth door panels hingedly connected together in a bi-fold configuration.
 12. A television cabinet according to claim 9 wherein the first and second doors are pocket doors, wherein the first door is mounted to the first side panel such that the first door is substantially adjacent to and parallel to the inner surface of the first side panel in the open position, and wherein the second door is mounted to the first side panel such that the second door is substantially adjacent to and parallel to the inner surface of the second side panel in the open position.
 13. A television cabinet according to claim 12 wherein the first door comprises first and second door panels hingedly connected together in a bi-fold configuration, the first and second door panels being substantially adjacent to and parallel to the inner surface of the first side panel when the first door is in the open position, and wherein the second door comprises third and fourth door panels hingedly connected together in a bi-fold configuration, the third and fourth door panels being substantially adjacent to and parallel to the inner surface of the second side panel when the second door is in the open position.
 14. A television cabinet according to claim 9 further comprising an upper facial panel mounted between the front edges of the first and second panels, the upper facial panel being positioned above the first and second doors when the doors are in the closed position.
 15. A television cabinet according to claim 9 further comprising a front base face panel disposed between lower portions of the front edges of the first and second side panels.
 16. A television cabinet according to claim 9 further comprising a first tower portion adjacent to the outer surface of the first side panel, and a second tower portion adjacent to the outer surface of the second side panel.
 17. A television cabinet according to claim 16 wherein the first and second tower portions each include at least one door for accessing interior portions of the towers.
 18. A television cabinet according to claim 9 further comprising a shelf, the shelf being disposed in the cabinet such that the shelf lies above a television when the television is enclosed in the cabinet.
 19. An entertainment center comprising: (a) a free-standing large-screen television having a top, first and second sides, and a front; (b) a decorative surround having a substantially open back, a substantially open bottom, and a substantially open face, wherein the surround substantially covers the top and sides of the television; and (c) at least one door movably mounted over the substantially open face of the surround, wherein the at least one door substantially covers the front of the television when the at least one door is in a closed position, and wherein the front of the television is substantially exposed when the at least one door is in an open position.
 20. An entertainment center according to claim 19 further comprising a plurality of casters mounted to bottom portions of the surround, the casters permitting the surround to be rolled over the television when the television is supported on a substantially flat surface.
 21. An entertainment center according to claim 19 comprising first and second doors movably mounted over the substantially open face of the surround.
 22. An entertainment center according to claim 21 wherein the first and second doors have a bi-fold configuration.
 23. An entertainment center according to claim 22 wherein the first and second bi-fold doors are retractably mounted to the surround, wherein the first door is retractable such that the first door is substantially adjacent to and substantially parallel to the first side of the television when the second door is in the open position, and wherein the second door is retractable such that the second door is substantially adjacent to and substantially parallel to the second side of the television when the second door is in the open position.
 24. An entertainment center according to claim 19 further including a first cabinet tower adjacent to the surround proximate to the first side of the television, and a second cabinet tower adjacent to the surround proximate to the second side of the television, wherein the first and second cabinet towers include a plurality of storage receptacles therein. 